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| Mayor Recall Petition Withdrawn RCA opposes Mayoral Recall Effort Read
the Suburban News Article General Membership Meeting Schedule Next General Membership meeting to be announced Join the Association! Download the membership form or fill out the form online. Ramsey Day 2003 Photos Special Notice The Human Services
Coordinator for Ramsey, Gina Ratto is seeking volunteers for several new
programs to assist the Citizens of Ramsey. The program includes
the following: Assistance for Families: If you or your group
are interested in helping out in any of these areas, please call Gina
Ratto, Human Services Coordinator for Ramsey at 201-934-6579 |
Fire! Are You Prepared? In case of fire, can you escape from your home safely? Practice fire safety -- plan your escape --have an outside meeting place for the family Particpate in Ramsey
Fire Department's When-- Wednesday,
Sept. 7, 2005, 7:00 pm Any questions, call 201-327-0007,Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:00pm Print, Sign, Distribute, and Join the RCA Effort to Petition State Legislators to Reform School Funding in New Jersey! We, the members of the Community of Ramsey, NJ, believe that we are
at a crossroads. The over reliance on property tax, the current school
funding formula, and the unfunded state and federal mandates (legislated
requirements) are posing insurmountable problems for our community. After
flat state aid for two consecutive years, and minimal aid this year,
our town and our school district has been forced to increase the property
tax burden on our citizens and make cuts to some of our services and
support programs. Next year, if predictions hold true, we will not receive
any additional state aid. Our property taxes will continue to increase
if we wish to maintain services and an excellent education for all of
our children. Petitions will
be collected by the Ramsey Civic Association and mailed to state legislators
in January. Please mail petitions with the signatures you are able
to collect to: Filled out petitions can also be brought to RCA meetings. Photos: Sherman Price Recall Petition
Withdrawn in Ramsey "The mayor and I have talked on several occasions about my concerns," Malvasi said. "I no longer think a recall of the mayor is the best way to address those concerns, nor is it in the best interests of the Borough of Ramsey." The two--Muti and Malvasi--participated in a debate Wednesday evening sponsored by the Ramsey Civic Association. About fifty residents attended the event, which turned out to be the catalyst for what seems like an amiable resolution of the matter. Jim Keeney, chairperson of the Ramsey Civic Association, had offered on several previous occasions to try to broker a settlement. Both participants in the debate thanked Keeney and the Ramsey Civic Association for their efforts, but also had kind things to say about each other. "I appreciated the way Pete Malvasi handled himself at the debate," Muti said. "Pete tried very hard to discuss his issues in a constructive manner. When he said he was thinking about withdrawing his recall petition if we could find a way to move forward in a positive way, I reached across the table and shook his hand, signaling my willingness to do just that." At the debate, Malvasi expressed regret over the strident, often negative tone his recall movement displayed in its early stages. He also said he felt some elements in town were using the recall movement for their own private and sometimes unreasonable agendas. He stressed that his major goal was to promote greater public discussion and that he feels he has achieved that goal. During the debate, Muti made no apology for being outspoken on a number of issues, including his past criticism of the Board of Education. "I have not just the right, but the duty," Muti said, "to speak out on any issue that affects property taxes in Ramsey." Muti said that the tone of his questioning BOE policies should have been more moderate. "I have great respect for the Ramsey school board," Muti said. "They and our teachers are directly responsible for the quality of Ramsey's school system. They've done a wonderful job, and we should never forget that." Muti has also been outspoken on the need to bring the spiraling costs of employee health benefits under control, both with borough employees and teachers. Malvasi, whom Muti had appointed as his alternate of the Ramsey Free Library Board of Trustees, praised the reasonableness of Muti's labor proposals. "I have personally experienced the way private industry is cutting back in this area," Malvasi said. "The mayor's proposals, in which he offered to raise salary levels of the lower paid employees to help them compensate for reductions in benefits, were extremely fair. I am astounded that the employees did not accept his offer." Malvasi was one of Mayor Muti's biggest supporters before a falling out occurred early this year. "I am very hopeful that Pete and I can regain our former good working relationship," Muti said. "Pete Malvasi has a lot of good energy and ideas to offer this community." Malvasi says "there are indeed remaining important issues and concerns which need attention in Ramsey but I have concluded the best way to address them will be to use my energy to work for specific changes with the various governing bodies and Mayor Muti." In Malvasi's statement he said "I express my gratitude to the Ramsey Civic Association for providing the venue to work through this and look forward to working with them to bring independent, nonpartisan and responsible representation of solutions and ideas and hopefully be a bridge to bringing together people from all sides in a forceful yet constructive manner." Main Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements Text from Handout from Public Meeting at Town Hall April 26, 2004 Project Description (1st Phase) 1. Location of Project The project is located along Main Street in the Central Business District. The project begins at the intersection of Main Street and Central Avenue and continuous through the Historic Ramsey Train Station to the Spruce Street Traffic Circle. The project also includes pedestrian crossings at strategic locations at the Island Avenue Intersection near the Ramsey High School, Fire Department and Rescue Squad. 2. Size of the Project The project is 1,100 feet in length and covers both sides of Main Street. 3. Scope of the Project The project consists of the replacement of the existing curb and sidewalk with granite curb and brick paver sidewalk, placement of pedestrian safety, stamped and colored, crosswalks on six locations on Main Street, and installation of lighting system crosswalks on Main Street at the train station and at the intersection near Ramsey High School, Fire Department and Rescue Squad. In addition, period lighting, landscaping and street furniture will be installed. In April 2003 Bergen County completed intersection improvements at E. Main Street/Franklin Turnpike/Lake Street using the features that are proposed for this project. 4. Existing Conditions Main Street is a 36-foot wide roadway with parallel parking on both sides, and has concrete and brick paver sidewalks along many sections of the 1,100-foot enhancement area. Both sides of the street appear close and corridor-like to pedestrians and motorists with buildings near the roadway, many along narrow sidewalks. Street lighting is cobra-style and wholly inadequate with 100 feet between them. There are white striped crosswalks at most intersections, which do not adequately facilitate safe pedestrian passage, especially during busy commuting times, evening hours, and on weekends. According to a Bergen County Traffic Study, there are nearly 16,000 cars that pass on Main Street ad its intersecting roads each day. The Municipality has reviewed these conditions for the last several years. In addition, Bergen County has concurred with the need to initiate traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures. As part of the 21st Century Revival, the business community is already starting façade and business improvements and many other anticipate making building and façade improvements once the enhancements are completed. 5. Scope of Work The work to be funded by the Enhancement funds includes the restoration of the Central Business District through:
6. Project Objectives To make a change to the “quality of life”, to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, and to add aesthetically and environmentally friendly streetscape amenities. Additional Notes: Cost is $800,000 – grant is for $350,000 – requesting additional funds. If not received, additional amount would equal to 2 tax points per resident. Construction timeframe is 3-4 months. Target is to start construction next year, with underground utilities being done this year. One side of street will be done at a time to avoid disruption on Main Street. Per Mayor Muti – Trying to make Ramsey a shopper/pedestrian friendly community. To add parking spaces, negotiatng with NJ Transit to obtain their 75 parking spaces on Mechanic Street, for Ramsey general parking. Also plan to speak to business owners to possibly open their parking lots to general shopping public. Mayor Muti also advised County may widen intersection at Main and Central and add left turn lane at light to eliminate backup of traffic. County would pay for this. Application for Phase 2 grant was made (Spruce to Island), but was turned down. Will apply again next year. On question of controlling speeding on Main Street, Mayor Muti advised Chief Gurney will return the practice of police foot patrol on Main – hopefully will help. On question of
different business facades,
Nick Saros
advised
ordinances could
be made that any
new business
would have
to have same facades
(Design Review board will
be looking into this). 
NJ Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk addressed the recent meeting of the RCA on the topic of imbalanced school funding and fields questions from the floor. She suggested that RCA members write to various state officials to raise awareness concerning the imbalance that puts Bergen County as the lowest funded county per pupil in the state. Addresses and suggested letters will appear on this web site shortly to assist the membership in a letter writing campaign. A Message From Dollars and Sense, The Organizing Committee Of The Bergen County School Funding Forum: To all concerned: One of the key messages from the recent Bergen County School Funding Forum concerned “Aid Envy”. For the benefit of us all, it is critical that all are made aware. Compared to schools in more affluent counties, the Bergen County schools have not been receiving their fair share. The attached chart shows this very definitively. Other counties have either more household income and comparable housing cost, or comparable household income and lower housing cost. Housing cost represents 31% of our cost of living. No other factor comes close. Citizens
need to make our concerns known. Legislators need to know that there
are votes at stake. It’s not wrong to demand a fair share. Please,
RCA Chairman Jim Keeney introduces Harry Pozycki of NJ Common Cause at an informational meeting held in the town council chamber.
Harry Pozycki of NJ Common Cause addresses attendees at the informational session held Monday June 9. Photos: Alex Stecyna. NJ Common Cause
Public Information Presentation Sponsored By The RCA
Text of Certificate: Our Certificate of Commendation reads as follows. It will be exhibited at all RCA Membership meetings with great pride:
We Did It!
So began two recent
articles from the Bergen Record in the past several weeks. And as you
probably know by now the “Heliport Issue” began when Commerce
Bank applied for a heliport space in April, 2002. What followed was a
series of events that would dismay anyone who thought that such an application
was unneeded in our small town if not downright dangerous:
Thus the odds were stacked in this David and Goliath type struggle. Yet the members of the RCA said, “NO, this will not stand.” We voted unanimously to fight heliport and then RCA rolled up its sleeves and went to work. Several members who are aviation experts dug deeply into town ordinances, police records and FAA requirements. These members and others attended everyone of the eight Zoning Board meeting (over a four month period) to question witnesses, talk to reporters and let our public officials know that we were not going to let “this one slip through”. Other members wrote
the FAA asking them to review their decision as well as “Letters
to the Editor” and lobby local officials to vote against the heliport.
In essence the RCA made the “heliport” an issue! And once the
residents of Ramsey were informed, they acted. They acted at the ballot
box. The outcome of the recent election finally convinced Commerce Bank
to drop the application. Not bad for an organization that began with handful members a little less than one year ago. But the Ramsey Civic Association did it and we succeeded because our combined strength and mutual support. We are now 150 strong and we intend on keeping an eye on all aspects of Ramsey government. The next regular membership meeting at the Ramsey Free Public Library on Tuesday evening, May 20, at 7:00 p.m. You can also join the Association and our mailing list here on the website. Membership dues cost only $15 per year. To complete your membership, register here on the site and please send a check made out to The Ramsey Civic Association at: Ramsey Civic Association It is Easier to Stand Firm When We Stand Together.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Ramsey Civic Association is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization and operates this web site for the dissemination of information on behalf of the public interest. This web site operates as a free community service. It provides a forum for people to freely express their ideas and opinions. The public records posted on the site can contribute significantly to the public understanding of the operations and activities of the municipal government and school district. Everyone's opinion counts. For more information about this website, contact the webmaster |
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